Iraq: Conflict Management Training

It has been a very busy week here in Baghdad. We are forging ahead with our effort to bring our conflict management training down to the district level in Baghdad, with strong interest coming from Mansour, Rashid, and—just today—Karradah districts.

On a personal level, I have spent much time meeting my counterparts based here, looking for people and organizations to partner with in order to magnify USIP's efforts in Iraq. I have also managed to find an ultimate frisbee group that plays occasionally in a dust bowl next to Saddam's former bunker. The field lies just under the flight path for incoming helicopters ferrying in wounded from the field. The rotor wash kicks up so much dust that we're usually black by the end of the game. Still, a good way to get exercise, for which I'm grateful.